Samsung accuses Apple of infringing on three patents

Samsung on Tuesday moved forward with arguments in its case against Apple, going on the offensive by alleging the iPhone maker infringed on three patents regarding the usability of multi-feature portable devices like smartphones.

Harvard professor and patent specialist Woodward Yang, was called to the stand as Samsung's fourth witness, gave testimony regarding three patents owned by the South Korean company covering photos, email attachments and playing music in the background.

According to in-court reports from CNET, Yang claims to have spent some 300 to 400 hours researching Apple devices for trial purposes, alleging certain models of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch infringe on Samsung's patents.

During his testimony, Yang demoed a photo emailing patent by showing Apple's iDevices sending pictures taken of an orange. According to the witness, the invention was designed with feature phones in mind, doing away with the hassle of connecting the device to a computer to offload photos. It is unclear if the patent covers Apple's integrated photo sharing options.

In another photo-related patent claim, Samsung asserted a photo album patent where a user can bookmark a specific photo for later viewing. Yang demoed the allegedly infringed feature on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPod touch, all of which presented the same image when bringing up a photo roll in an app other than Apple's default Photos.

Finally, Samsung asserted a patent which describes a software solution for music to be played in the background behind other open apps. Yang notes the idea for the claim was to find a way to keep music playing when switching through apps, while keeping device size down by not introducing decoding hardware.

In cross-examination, Apple lawyer Bill Lee went on the offensive, referencing a page from Samsung's side-by-side comparison of the iPhone and what would would become the Galaxy S, saying the Korean company studied Apple's implementation of email attachments.

"In your 400 hours of work, you have not found one iota of evidence that Apple knew about the '893 patent, or copied the '893 patent," Lee said in reference to the photo album feature. Yang said the assertion was true.

Source: Apple v. Samsung court documents

The Apple lawyer noted that none of the patent inventors testified in Samsung's defense, nor does the company use any of the asserted properties in its smartphones. Lee asked Yang how Apple could have copied the features if they weren't present on Samsung devices.

Yang was the third Samsung witness to take the stand on Tuesday, following Adam Bogue and Clifton Forlines, both of whom were involved with Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories' DiamondTouch table.

Wait, Samsung wants us to believe Apple copied the idea of emailing a photo, bookmarking a photo, and playing music in the background... from Samsung? Is this for real? I mean.. no words.

The hypocrisy of Samsung accusing Apple of patenting 'rounded rectangles', insinuating that they patent broad concepts, while Apple has supplied extremely numerous and detailed examples of infringement, and then bringing up shit like the concept of playing music in the background and emailing a photo? What a joke.

I cant remember the source, but I believe Apple has an agreement or something with him since the beginning, The link here shows that David Pouge Asked him and he replied (I know the iPhone) but never stated the existence of some sort of agreement, but was not angry either.

As we know Apple usually keeps this things silent. Some times apple say (no licensing) but we see proof they offer it.

I have to just insert this in here, but according to late breaking ABC news, Bill Gates has fixated on a consumer product Apple has totally overlooked. Gates is gonna "clean up" by re-inventing the toilet! Now, I'm not making this up! Most of the prototypes are on display this week in the open courtyard of the Seattle headquarters -- I have no idea why he doesn't have them inside.

One of the design goals is that the new toilets need to be able to operate for only a nickel... "Imagine it," Bill exclaimed to Melinda, "A gawd-dammed nickel every time someone squats!"

Considered a perfect companion to the "Surface," the new "Hole" will give the consumer a place to sit while trying to figure out their new Fisher-Price computer. There was no mention of whether a family plan may be offered. An Apple spokesman had "no comment" on the news of the new "Hole," but did lose his composure and broke down in fits of laughter before managing to hang up.

I have to just insert this in here, but according to late breaking ABC news, Bill Gates has fixated on a consumer product Apple has totally overlooked. Gates is gonna "clean up" by re-inventing the toilet! Now, I'm not making this up! Most of the prototypes are on display this week in the open courtyard of the Seattle headquarters -- I have no idea why he doesn't have them inside.

One of the design goals is that the new toilets need to be able to operate for only a nickel... "Imagine it," Bill exclaimed to Melinda, "A gawd-dammed nickel every time someone squats!"

Considered a perfect companion to the "Surface," the new "Hole" will give the consumer a place to sit while trying to figure out their new Fisher-Price computer. There was no mention of whether a family plan may be offered. An Apple spokesman had "no comment" on the news of the new "Hole," but did lose his composure and broke down in fits of laughter before managing to hang up.

The funny thing to me about Sammy's claim is that they only name certain iOS devices and not others....yet the issue they are claiming infringes has to do with the software that runs on the devices and not the hardware. Am I missing something? Does not the 4S which is not named, run the same OS as the 4 which is named? Do not the iPad 1 and 3 run the same OS as the iPad2? Seems if they are going to make this claim that all iDevices should be included since they all run the same OS......One more thing that seems bogus about Sammy in general.